Dr. Harry Friesen
Dr. Harry Friesen passed away Wednesday, April 14, 2010. Born in western Kansas in 1924, his primary education was in a one room school house through grade 8. When WWII started, he was "frozen" on the farm to essential agriculture. Then at age 19, he was drafted into the US Army Medical Corps as a Surgical Tech. He completed high school with the Armed Forces Institute Correspondence School. Harry finished his Doctor of Medicine degree in June, 1954; did his internship at the US Public Health Service Hospital in New Orleans (remaining in the USPHS reserves for the next 10 years with the rank of Commander). He then entered a one year Family Practice Residency at Riverside County Hospital in Calif., becoming a Charter Member of the new Family Practice Specialty. For the next 17 years, Harry joined a comprehensive Family Practice Clinic in Woodland, Calif. He achieved his aviation Instrument Rated Commercial License and performed as a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner. In 1974, Harry moved to Rancho Bernardo where he became the first Chairman of the Family Practice Department and fourth Chief of Medical Staff of Pomerado Hospital. Harry committed one year of each ten years as a self supporting physician to the under-privileged in India, Africa, and South America. Harry is survived by his beloved wife Janice; his children, Michele, Todd, Cynthia, Kenneth, and Gregory. He leaves grandchildren, Brandon, Taryn, John, and Cynthia; plus great- grandchildren, Jonathan, Jennifer, Wesley, Skylar, Ian; and brothers, Alfred, Benjamin, and Walter. Services will be held at Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church, 17010 Pomerado Road, San Diego, Calif. 92128, April 29, 2010, at 2:00 p.m.